Blitz Bureau
INDIA has condemned the recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan, emphasising that it is Islamabad’s “old practice” to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.
“We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on January 6 while responding to media queries regarding airstrikes on Afghan civilians.
“We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. We have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard,” he added.
On December 24, Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan resulted in the death of 46 people, including several women and children, inviting worldwide criticism and a stern warning from the current regime in the wartorn country. The airstrikes by Pakistani fighter jets on parts of Barmal district in Paktika province was the second instance in 2024 of Islamabad directly hitting “civilian areas” on Afghan territory. In March 2024, a similar strike had killed eight people, including three children.